Lithuania

Title: Household Budget Survey

GENERAL INFORMATION AND BASIC DEFINITIONS

1. Background

Further information is available from Department of Statistics to the Government of the Republic of Lituania (Statistics Lituania) of 29 Gedimino Ave, 2746 Vilnius, Lithuania, phone: 370 5 23649 19, fax: 370 5 23646 66, e-mail: regina.deveikyte@std.lt.
Data have been collected by household survey since 1952. ¹

2. Purpose and coverage

The following purposes are considered to be very important or of some importance:

• to obtain weights for consumer price index
• to estimate household expenditure for national accounts
• to study the general structure of household incomes/expenditures
• to study income/expenditure patterns of disadvantaged groups, including pensioner households, single parent households, etc
• to study income/expenditure disparities among socio-economic groups
• to study consumer behaviour among socio-economic groups
• for general poverty and/or income distribution studies
• to study effects on income and expenditure of policy changes, especially tax changes
• for market research purposes

Geographic coverage: National without any specific geographic areas excluded.

Population coverage:²
The following types of household are included in the data collection:

• one person private households
• households of other foreigners in the country
• armed forces residing in private housing outside military base

The following types of household are excluded in the data collection:

• those in collective housing (such as long term hospitals, prisons, monasteries, military quarters)
• non-resident households of nationals (households of nationals located abroad)
• diplomatic households in the country
• households of other foreigners in the country
• armed forces residing in private housing within military base
• nomadic and other households difficult to reach: homelessness

Units: Dwelling units are not used in the sample selection.

Data are recorded for the household unit which is characterised by:

• one person units
• two or more people living together:
  • sharing a single dwelling or compound
  • sharing meals
  • pooling their income to some extent

Unit members: ³ Usual residents temporarily living away from the dwelling are included, if away continuously for less than 1 months. Visitors (not usual residents) temporarily living in the dwelling are not included as unit members. Domestic staff living in same dwelling/compound are not included in the unit. Renters living in same dwelling/compound are not included in the unit. Boarders living in same dwelling/compound are not included in the unit.

Head of unit: ⁴
The concept of head of household/other unit is used in this survey and is characterised by:

• main income earner

3. Reference periods

The time period to which income and/or expenditure statistics refer when released/published is from 01/01 to 12/01. These data are collected in the period from 01/01 to 01/02. This survey is conducted continuously. The statistics are published quartely and annually.

SURVEY METHODOLOGY

4. Sample design

The Primary, Secondary and Ultimate Sampling Units are enumeration area/district, none and household respectively.⁵

Stratification:
Areas/districts were stratified using the following criteria:

• rural/urban

The sampling frames for the Primary Sampling Unit (PSU) and Ultimate Sampling Unit (USU) were a list of administrative districts and a set of administrative registers (or combination of such registers) respectively. Primary Sampling Units (PSU) were selected using probability proportional to size. The sample size was 10680 households or other units. The overall response rate for the survey was 76 percent. Errors/biases were minimized by using an updated sampling frame, an increased sample size.

Enumeration procedure: Enumeration uses a single round survey design in which each reporting unit is enumerated only once. The sample is divided into 12 representative sub-samples. No action is taken to select a smaller set of reporting units for more detailed questioning.

DATA COLLECTION, CONCEPTS, DEFINITIONS AND CLASSIFICATIONS

5. Income data

Income data are collected. Receipts do not have to be regular and recurring to be considered as income. Income includes receipts resulting from the sale or reduction of assets and/or from incurring liabilities are included in income. Income excludes receipts that are not currently available to the unit.

The following receipts are collected separately:

• employee social security contributions , excluded for other reasons
• rents (payment received for un-produced assets e.g. land)
• retirement pensions from compulsory social security schemes
• other pensions
• unemployment benefits
• family-related allowances
• sickness benefits
• invalidity benefits
• survivors benefits
• regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: cash, e.g. scholarships
• regular inter-household transfers received from: family, e.g. alimony, child/parental support

The following receipts are collected but not separately:

• wages and salaries
• cash bonuses and gratuities
• commissions and tips
• remuneration for time not worked, e.g. leave pay
• termination and redundancy payments
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: housing
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: meals
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: goods or services produced by employer
• drawing for own use from unincorporated enterprises
• goods produced for own consumption , net of inputs
• services produced for own consumption , net of inputs
• interest received
• dividends
• rentals (payment received for produced assets e.g. house) , net of expenses
• royalties⁹
• regular pensions/annuities from schemes to which employee does not contribute
• old age benefits
• education-related allowances
• housing allowances
• food subsidies
• medical reimbursements
• other social insurance benefits
• other social assistance benefits
• regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: goods and services
• regular inter-household transfers received from: regular inheritances or trusts
• regular inter-household transfers received from: regular in-kind gifts

The following receipts are not collected:

• employer social security contributions , excluded due to measurement problems
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: car/transportation , excluded due to measurement problems
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: other goods or services , excluded due to measurement problems
• profit/loss from unincorporated enterprises (mixed income) , excluded due to measurement problems
• goods produced for barter , excluded due to measurement problems
• services produced for barter , excluded due to measurement problems
• stock consumed from unincorporated enterprise , excluded due to measurement problems
• services from owner-occupied dwellings , excluded due to measurement problems
• services from other consumer durables (net) , excluded due to measurement problems
• free government dwelling , excluded due to measurement problems
• subsidized government dwelling , excluded due to measurement problems
• regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: free dwelling , excluded due to measurement problems
• regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: subsidized dwelling , excluded due to measurement problems
• regular inter-household transfers received from: free dwelling , excluded due to measurement problems
• regular inter-household transfers received from: subsidized dwelling , excluded due to measurement problems
• regular inter-household transfers received from: regular free services , excluded due to measurement problems
• social transfers in kind: medical services , excluded due to measurement problems
• social transfers in kind: public education , excluded due to measurement problems
• social transfers in kind: transport subsidies , excluded due to measurement problems
• social transfers in kind: cultural and recreational services , excluded due to measurement problems
• social transfers in kind: others , excluded due to measurement problems

The following receipts are classified as income from paid employment:

• wages and salaries
• cash bonuses and gratuities
• commissions and tips
• remuneration for time not worked, e.g. leave pay
• termination and redundancy payments
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: housing
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: meals
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: goods or services produced by employer
• royalties⁹

The following receipts are classified as income from self-employment:

• drawing for own use from unincorporated enterprises
• goods produced for own consumption , net of inputs
• services produced for own consumption , net of inputs)

The following receipts are classified as property income:

• interest received
• dividends
• rentals (payment received for produced assets e.g. house) , net of expenses
• rents (payment received for un-produced assets e.g. land)

The following receipts are classified as employment-related transfer income:

• retirement pensions from compulsory social security schemes
• unemployment benefits
• sickness benefits
• invalidity benefits
• survivors benefits
• other social insurance benefits

The following receipts are classified as transfer income but not employment-related:

• regular pensions/annuities from schemes to which employee does not contribute
• old age benefits
• other pensions
• family-related allowances
• education-related allowances
• housing allowances
• medical reimbursements
• other social assistance benefits
• regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: cash, e.g. scholarships
• regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: goods and services

The following receipts are classified as other employment-related income:

• food subsidies

The following receipts are classified as other income but not employment-related:

• regular inter-household transfers received from: family, e.g. alimony, child/parental support
• regular inter-household transfers received from: regular inheritances or trusts
• regular inter-household transfers received from: regular in-kind gifts

The following receipts are excluded due to measurement problems:

• employer social security contributions
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: car/transportation
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: other goods or services
• profit/loss from unincorporated enterprises (mixed income)
• goods produced for barter
• services produced for barter
• stock consumed from unincorporated enterprise
• services from owner-occupied dwellings
• services from other consumer durables (net)
• free government dwelling
• subsidized government dwelling
• regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: free dwelling
• regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: subsidized dwelling
• regular inter-household transfers received from: free dwelling
• regular inter-household transfers received from: subsidized dwelling
• regular inter-household transfers received from: regular free services
• social transfers in kind: medical services
• social transfers in kind: public education
• social transfers in kind: transport subsidies
• social transfers in kind: cultural and recreational services
• social transfers in kind: others

The following receipts are excluded for other reasons:

• employee social security contributions

The following receipts are collected using the last week as the reference period:

• wages and salaries
• remuneration for time not worked, e.g. leave pay
• termination and redundancy payments

The following receipts are collected using the last month as the reference period:

• cash bonuses and gratuities
• commissions and tips
• employee social security contributions
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: housing
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: meals
• employee income in-kind provided free or subsidized: goods or services produced by employer
• drawing for own use from unincorporated enterprises
• goods produced for own consumption , net of inputs
• services produced for own consumption , net of inputs
• interest received
• dividends
• rentals (payment received for produced assets e.g. house) , net of expenses
• rents (payment received for un-produced assets e.g. land)
• royalties⁹
• regular pensions/annuities from schemes to which employee does not contribute
• retirement pensions from compulsory social security schemes
• old age benefits
• other pensions
• unemployment benefits
• family-related allowances
• sickness benefits
• invalidity benefits
• education-related allowances
• housing allowances
• survivors benefits
• food subsidies
• medical reimbursements
• other social insurance benefits
• other social assistance benefits
• regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: cash, e.g. scholarships
• regular support received from non-profit institutions serving households: goods and services
• regular inter-household transfers received from: family, e.g. alimony, child/parental support
• regular inter-household transfers received from: regular inheritances or trusts
• regular inter-household transfers received from: regular in-kind gifts

Negative values (business losses) were included when computing self-employment income, only for farmers.

6. Expenditure data

Data collection method:

Diaries are used to collect expenditure on the following items:

• food
• alcohol, tobacco
• other household non-durables (such as newspapers, batteries)
• clothing, footwear
• other personal non-durables (such as perfumes)
• household services (such as plumber)
• personal services (such as driving lessons, haircuts)
• durable goods

Interviews are used to collect expenditure data with the respondent completing the interview by a mix of recall and using documentation.

Data for the following expenditure items are collected by referring:⁸

The following types of expenditure items are classified as 'Household consumption expenditure':

• non-durable goods purchased
• durable goods purchased (except housing)
• services of owner-occupied housing
• own produced non-durable goods¹⁰
• own-produced durable goods
• own-produced services
• financial services (including fees for financial advice, brokerage fees)
• non-life insurance premiums (e.g. vehicle, housing, other property, medical) , gross of claims
• life insurance premiums , gross of claims
• gambling expenditure , gross of winnings
• out of pocket health expenditure , net of claims
• out of pocket education expenditures , net of refunds
• out of pocket transport expenditures , net of refunds
• housing maintenance, minor repairs
• second hand goods purchased
• expenditure abroad
• valuables

The following types of expenditure items are classified as 'Actual Household consumption':

• income in-kind receipts of goods¹⁰
• income in-kind receipts of services
• in-kind goods received from other households¹⁰
• in-kind services received from other households
• social transfers in-kind of goods and services from government and non-profit institutions serving households

The following types of expenditure items are classified as 'Non-consumption household expenditure':

• licences and fees (e.g. driver's licence, hunting licence, vehicle registration)
• regular cash payments to others outside the household
• non-regular cash payments to others outside the household
• purchase of gifts of goods and services given to others outside the household
• compulsory transfers to governments (e.g. contributions to government old age and disability insurance program, taxes)
• investment-related expenditures (e.g. purchase of shares/stocks)

The following types of expenditure items are classified as 'Non-household expenditure':

• occupational expenditures¹¹
• other business-related expenditures¹²

The following types of expenditure items are classified as 'Investment/liability expenditure':

• purchase price of owner-occupied housing
• major repairs, conversions and extensions to owner-occupied housing

The following types of expenditure items are excluded due to measurement problems:

• mortgage repayments, including interest
• services from durables owned (except housing)
• interest payments (excluding mortgage interest payments)

The following types of expenditure items are collected on an 'acquisitions' basis:

• non-durable goods purchased
• durable goods purchased (except housing)
• purchase price of owner-occupied housing
• major repairs, conversions and extensions to owner-occupied housing
• income in-kind receipts of services
• own-produced durable goods
• own-produced services
• in-kind services received from other households
• housing maintenance, minor repairs
• purchase of gifts of goods and services given to others outside the household
• second hand goods purchased
• expenditure abroad
• valuables

The following types of expenditure items are collected on a 'payments' basis:

• services of owner-occupied housing
• social transfers in-kind of goods and services from government and non-profit institutions serving households
• financial services (including fees for financial advice, brokerage fees)
• non-life insurance premiums (e.g. vehicle, housing, other property, medical) , gross of claims
• life insurance premiums , gross of claims
• licences and fees (e.g. driver's licence, hunting licence, vehicle registration)
• gambling expenditure , gross of winnings
• out of pocket health expenditure , net of claims
• out of pocket education expenditures , net of refunds
• out of pocket transport expenditures , net of refunds
• regular cash payments to others outside the household
• non-regular cash payments to others outside the household
• compulsory transfers to governments (e.g. contributions to government old age and disability insurance program, taxes)
• investment-related expenditures (e.g. purchase of shares/stocks)
• occupational expenditures¹¹
• other business-related expenditures¹²

The following types of expenditure items are collected on a mixed basis:

• income in-kind receipts of goods¹⁰ ((10))
• own produced non-durable goods¹⁰ ((10))
• in-kind goods received from other households¹⁰ ((10))

Classification: A national classification is used for classifying expenditure and has 504 separate categories at the finest level. The classification is consistent with COICOP at the Class (4 digit) level.

7. Other Data Collection Issues

The following other topics are covered:

• demographic characteristics
• education attainment of members
• employment status of members
• occupation of members
• ownership of selected durable goods
• housing characteristics

Households are not requested to indicate whether durable goods are new or second-hand when their acquisition is recorded.

Non-response: There is no substitution for non-response, whether by non-contact or by refusal.

Non-response is reduced using the following measures:

• more than one repeat visits
• monetary rewards
• other measures : noticing letters for respondents

Reporting errors are reduced using the following measures:

• careful instrument design
• bounding interview
• adequate cues or props for prompting
• quality control

DATA PROCESSING, ANALYSIS AND DISSEMINATION

Answers are not pre-coded on data collection forms, but are coded by the interviewers (data collectors).

The responses are edited by the following:

• interviewers, data collectors
• field supervisors
• office staff

¹³ In-kind receipts and consumption of own production are included in the estimates. In-kind receipts are valued using: the respondent's estimate. Consumption of own production is valued using: the respondent's estimate.

Treatment of owner-occupied housing: Values of owner-occupied housing are not included in the total income/expenditure estimates.¹⁴

Treatment of selected groups/values in analysis: Some households/units are excluded from analysis because of incomplete response. Missing values are retained without change . Supplementary sources are not used to adjust estimates for under- or over-reporting. No groups are excluded from data analysis.

Weighting:
Weighting factors are used to adjust for:¹⁵

• sampling
• non-response
• bench-marking

Sampling errors: Sampling errors are computed for major aggregates and these sampling errors are available on request.

Tabulation and Analysis: Statistics are presented showing averages per month and statistics are analysed and tabulated for households only.

The following classifications are used for tabulation and analysis of income statistics:

• age of reference person or head of household
• sex of reference person or head of household
• other characteristic of reference person or head of household, education main source of household head income
• income percentiles, deciles
• expenditure percentiles
• household size
• structure of household
• other classification, urban/rural, largest cities

The following classifications are used for tabulation and analysis of expenditure statistics:

• age of reference person or head of household
• sex of reference person or head of household
• other characteristic of reference person or head of household, education main source of household head income
• income percentiles, deciles
• expenditure percentiles
• household size
• structure of household
• other classification, urban/rural, largest cities

Documentation and Dissemination:
Published survey reports: household income and expenditure(annual) Household budget survey results, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002

Additional statistics (or special tables on request) are available for public use, free of charge (if preparation time does not exceed 15 min.) and with charges (if preparation time exceeds 15 min.).

Separate tables are published for the following special population groups:

• households with wages/salaries as main source of income
• low income households